Hello :) noob with question

[blackjet]

Hi all nice to be here, hopefully you kind ppl will see fit to impart some wisdom to a noob!

I have 5 little black pine seedlings (all about 10cm high) that I grew from seed, they are in one little pot and will need to transplant them soon. I want to turn them into bonsai trees but I don't really know what to do next.

I know that it involves root trimming and wiring but I haven't a clue when or how.

Any advice greatly appreciated, many thanks

~blackjet

[juglansnigra]

Hey Blackjet,

Grow them on is the best advice first, do not try to turn them into bonsai trees too soon, they need to develop for a few years first.

Re-pot in separate pots and allow to develop, when you re-pot a second time look at the roots and start to assess the structure and cut back dominant roots to encourage a root ball of roots to develop.

To promote quick growth once they are more developed you can plant in the ground for a year or two to get a thicker stem development but make sure you protect them.

Hope that helps

Juglansnigra

[blackjet]

Juglansnigra, thankyou very much! I have been reading about bonsai and I was worried I missed my first opportunity to trim the roots, as I have already put them into separate pots. I'll do it the next time I pot up

Cheers again!

~blackjet

[georgiabonsai]

Blackjet,
When you place them into the new containers, I would use some 4" sq and 5" Deep plastic containers. I have 300 Pines ( about 3" tall) in these type containers and they work great. Pines will grow slow at first so don't rush them. I use some potting soil and Turface mixture. This allows for good drainage

[juglansnigra]

Blackjet,

how are your black pines getting on?

[jason_mazzy]

Know that pines cannot be bare rooted once established or they will die. They have a symbiotic relationship with a group of fungus, so be careful. And if you don't mind using all ur pines at once plant them in a large flat style pot. i suggest a busboy tray from samsclub. wire all 5 together so they are touching and with luck they will graft to one another and get you some quick girth. then you can grow wm and train em in that big bus bucket for years and the pines nebari and root system will be growing out not down!